The HYDRA Plan: Operation Sokovia

Sokovia (Sokovian Cyrillic: Соковиja; Sokovian Latin: Sokovija) was a former landlocked country in Central-Southeastern Europe, bordered by Slovakia and the Czech Republic. After its capital city Novi Grad was destroyed by Ultron, it was politically absorbed into the surrounding countries.

HYDRA

In 2012 following the Battle of New York, as Loki and the Tesseract were prepared to be taken back to Asgard, Secret SHIELD/ HYDRA sleeper agents intercepted Loki's Scepter and transported it to the HYDRA Research Base in Sokovia. 

With the Scepter now in HYDRA's possession, von Strucker and Dr. List conducted a series of experiments and managed to powered up a large number of Chitauri Weapons, recovered from the Battle of New York. 

Von Strucker ordered Dr. List to gather volunteers among the rioting population of Sokovia for experiments with the Cosmic Scepter. 

Meanwhile, in an adjacent program to HYDRA's Centipede Project, von Strucker ordered Dr. Steffen Scarabeus to advanced a derivative of a Super Soldier program by combining Chitauri materials with the Extremis formula. Known as Project Scarab- it offered a promising means of granting powers to their subjects beyond what the Extremis formula offered. 

Both Doctors List and Scarabeus were from IGH. (See below) 

Dr. List and von Strucker

 

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 HYDRA HIGH COMMAND (ITALY)

Dr. List

Daniel Whitehall DECEASED Originally a high-ranking officer of the Nazi Schutzstaffel, during World War II, Whitehall led many expeditions to recover mysterious artifacts for HYDRA, working under the command of the infamous Red Skull. Whitehall was shot and killed by Phil Coulson of SHIELD. 

Von Strucker. DECEASED Baron Wolfgang von Strucker was one of the leaders of HYDRA, he was killed by Ultron after the AVENGERS, attacked the HYDRA Research Base in Sokovia. 

Count Draghn Makhailov. DECEASED Sokovian Nobleman and Marcus' Father. He orchestrated the transportation of the Scepter and other recovered Chitauri materials to the HYDRA Research Base in Sokovia. Draghn was killed by Ultron after AVENGERS, attacked Strucker's HYDRA Research Base in Sokovia.

Brom Makhailov. DECEASED Sokovian Nobleman and Marcus' Grandfather and leader of the HYDRA cell in Sokovia. He worked closely with Daniel Whitehall during WWII. Brom was also killed by Ultron after AVENGERS, attacked Strucker's HYDRA Research Base in Sokovia.

Karl Kraus. Sokovian Nobleman, Marcus' Uncle, CEO of Kraus Techmatrix and HYDRA TECHNICAL OFFICER. A leader in European tech companies with competitors such as Roxxon and AIM. Karl profited greatly from stolen inventions and reclaimed alien tech. 

Matteo Salvini. Italian Nobleman, current Minister of the Interior and HYDRA DIRECTOR. The Italian Interior Minister is political head for the administration of internal affairs. He controls the State police, the Vigili del Fuoco (fire protection), and sits on the High Council of Defense. 

Giuseppe Conte. Italian Nobleman, current Prime Minister of Italy and HYDRA COUNCILOR. He was close associate of the late Count Draghn Makhailov before The Age of Ultron. 

Virginia Raggi-Kraus. Karl Kraus' extremely intelligent and capable daughter. She is the current Mayor of Rome and assumptive MADAME HYDRA. Marcus Makhailov (Troy) discovers for the first time Virginia Raggi (Kraus) is his cousin.  

Lucian Fosta. A former SHIELD agent, Fosta was appointed by his uncle Matteo Salvini as SED (Special Enforcement Detail) Commander. Fosta was a covert HYDRA FIELD COMMANDOR imbedded in SHIELD and was an early test subject for IGH. 

 

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I.G.H. 

IGH was originally a secret research laboratory and genetic technology clinic involved in covert and illegal human experimentation. Its name is a backronym for Industrial Garments & Handling, the cover for the operation. 

Dr. Steffen Scarabeus

After the Battle of New York IGH was rebranded by the secretive INTELLIGENCIA to International Genetics and Healthcare- a 'doctors without borders' initiative that specialized in global stem-cell research, blood donations, and organ transplants. Its original mission however remained intact. 

One of its primary projects was the employment of genetic editing for medical purposes, which had the side effect of subjects developing superhuman abilities. 

Another of IGH's side-projects was the development of pharmaceuticals that increase the user's strength and reflexes, though these measures had detrimental side effects in the users' minds.

Doctor Steffen Scarabeus and his wife, both IGH Doctors, discovered an X-Gene in a 'Subject Zero' Ellie Morgenthau after the Battle of New York. A curious young woman, orphaned after the Chitari attack, who's extraordinary regenerative blood properties had the potential of not just eliminating disease but could also advance the development or activate the X-Gene in a recipient. 

Doctor Scarabeus and his wife fostered Ellie and would secretly run tests on her over the coarse of years studying her mutant gene. 

Dr. Andre Severini

THE INTELLIGENCIA

Dr. List DECEASED Lead Doctor for HYDRA's Project Scepter and one of the founders of IGH. List was killed by Iron Man when the AVENGERS, attacked Strucker's HYDRA Research Base in Sokovia. 

Dr. Karlin Malus (USA)- DECEASED

Dr. Miklos Kozlov (USA)- DECEASED

Dr. Steffen Scarabeus DECEASED Lead Doctor for HYDRA's Project Scarab, one of the founders of IGH and Ellie's foster father. He was killed on the train to Rome by a man dressed as Catholic Priest who meant to steal his secrets. The priest was dusted. Episode 1. 

Dr. Andre Severini One of the founders of IGH, Nobel Prize Winner, Brother to Stephen Scarabeus, and husband to Mayor Virginia Raggi-Kraus. 

 

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 HYDRA/IGH TEST SUBJECTS 

Name. Sokovia or (USA). Enhancement Source, Other Information. 

Lucian Fosta

Charles Chandler- Cosmic Radiation (Scepter) HYDRA Soldier. 

Daniel Jermain- Experimental Pharmaceuticals. Associate of the Casamonica crime family. Danger-man

David Samuels- (USA) Extremis Enhanced. HYDRA Soldier. 

Douglas Ramsey- Cosmic Radiation (Scepter) Cypher 

Drew Grey- (USA) Extremis Enhanced. HYDRA Soldier. 

Harold Chandler- Cosmic Radiation (Scepter) HYDRA Soldier. 

Janus Silvini- (USA) Experimental Pharmaceuticals. DECEASED killed by John Proudstar. Episode 3

Jessica Jones- (USA) Experimental Pharmaceuticals

Kevin Thompson- (USA) Experimental Pharmaceuticals DECEASED 

Lucian Fosta- (USA) Experimental Pharmaceuticals (Combat Enhancers) HYDRA sleeper agent in SHIELD and John Proudstar's next enhanced nemesis.

Mathew Casamonica- Extremis Enhanced and clan capo of the Casamonica crime family. The Flat-man. 

Pietro Maximoff- Cosmic Radiation (Scepter) DECEASED 

Robert Coleman-  (USA) Experimental Pharmaceuticals DECEASED 

Wanda Maximoff- Cosmic Radiation (Scepter) AVENGER 

Will Simpson- (USA) Experimental Pharmaceuticals (Combat Enhancers) DECEASED 

 

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Recovered from the HYDRA Bunker hundreds of feet below Italy's Quirinal Palace.  

Marco Minniti, the former Minister of the Interior strapped down in a sterile medical room and hooked up to strange equipment. His head is in a device but he is unconscious and in stable condition. 

Prisoners in the advanced containment pods: three members of the Italian Ministry, three Foreign Dignitaries (USA, France, England), one Catholic Priest and a lower demon, two private security guards. 

3 Doses of Project Scarab Serum. 

Techmatrix Exo-Suit Mark II

10 Light and Heavy Chitauri weapon components. 

10 Chitauri powered Polearms

5 Chitauri powered Armor components. 

Up to 50 Equipment points towards a character PPs. 

The Casamonica Clan

The Casamonica clan is an Italian

Villa on the Tyrrhenian Sea

Maggia criminal organization operating in Rome and the area of the Castelli Romani, the Lazio coast as well as villas in SE Rome.

Authorities admit they largely overlooked the Casamonica clan's rise during the 1980s and 1990s, remaining instead focused on other organized crime gangs. Such negligence led to the unfettered rise of the Casamonica organization. 

None have ever turned against the clan, making it particularly difficult for the authorities to tackle the organization. (Source The Local IT)

The clan is known for its criminal influence, ostentatious celebrations, resourcefulness, and garishly decorated villas. 

Origins 

The Casamonica clan originates from the Casamonica and Di Silvio families who came to Italy's capital in the nineteen fifties. The group is made up of families such as the De Rosa, the Di Guglielmo, the Di Rocco, the Ciarelli, the Di Colombi, the Di Lauro, the Zini, the Spada and the Spinelli.

Areas of activity

The traditional cornerstones of the mafia clan are the areas located in the south-eastern outskirts of Rome and regions further south. According to the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate (DIA), the Casamonica clan is the most powerful and rooted criminal structure in the Region of Lazio. According to a census by Vittorio Rizzi, head of the Rome mobile team (Squadra Mobile, a division of State Police), the clan is made up of around 43 families and a over a thousand associates. (Source Wikipedia)

Activities

The Casamonica clan and affiliates control large swathes of the west and coastal area of Rome and have reportedly built a crime empire worth €90 million from illicit activities. 

The Casamonica clan has always been associated with racketeering, extortion and usury for decades, with very little public exposure until a lavish funeral for crime boss ‘the debt-collector’ Vittorio Casamonica caused outrage in 2015. (Source: Italics Mag)

*Today's generation of family members can been found in corporate executive positions, as Italian social media influencers, and in high technical positions. 

Monte Cavo Safe House

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Giordano

Giordano Casamonica. Has been clan Don since the passing of his older brother Vittorio Casamonica in 2015. He was released from prison earlier this year after evidence went missing and someone else confessed to the crimes Giordano stood accused of. As a tech expert Giordano is the undisputed leader of the Clan. He has expensive tastes and loves his money; he is often found on his state-of-the-art yacht. He has in his possession a Kraus Techmatrix prototype Exo-Suit but has not been able to unlock its full capabilities. 

Techmatrix Exo-Suit

Giambi

Giambattista 'Giambi' Casamonica. Clan Underboss and son of the diseased Vittorio Casamonica. A powerful second in command and is being groomed to one day take over the family business. He is a ruthless business man with a seat on the Board of Directors for the Roxxon Corporation. 

Rosey

Mary De Rosa “Rosey” (F) Clan consigliere and the fiery leader of convoy group you met at Civitavecchia. In Rome Mary De Rosa is an exclusive event planner for celebrities and the affluent. She is also Giordano's closest friend and confidant, Rosey is also the Number 3 in command of the family. The information she gathers during the events she organizes have been very profitable. 

Mathew

Mathew Casamonica. Clan Capo. A Capo describes a ranking made member of a family who leads a crew of soldiers. Mathew was part of the Civitavecchia convoy crew. 

*ENHANCED Called the flat-man because of his ability to assume a two-dimensional alternate form. He is a knife fighter who earned his name on the streets of Rome with his streetwise prowess. To elevate his usefulness and prestige in the family Mathew entered an advanced warrior training program that turned out to be a covert HYDRA operation called Project Scarab. 

It was in Sokovia under the direct observation of Dr. Scarabeus (Ellie’s murdered foster-father) when Mathew got his powers. Project Scarab was the next evolution of the Extremis formula. Project Scarab and was HYDRA's companion operation to Dr. List's experiments in Sokovia with Loki's Scepter; groundbreaking work that ultimately produced the ENHANCED twins of Wanda and Pietro Maximoff.  

Duprey

Duprey Casamonica. Clan Capo. Duprey was one of the drivers in the Civitavecchia convoy crew. A large but kind man who has a wife and 3 daughters. Duprey is a structural engineer who owns and operates a large construction business. Duprey is thoughtful man who is slow to anger. He and Daniel Jermain (below) are good friends. 

Omar the Italian Shadow

Omar Spada. Clan Soldier. Also known as a “made man,” soldiers are the lowest members of the crime family but still command respect in the organization. To become made, soldiers are required to take an oath of silence, called merta. Omar is Giordano's number 1 foot soldier.

*GIFTED Omar is a mouthy, hot-headed intimidator who is prone to violent or sometimes deadly outbursts. Omar is gifted with fast hands and does not feel pain or empathy. Never a good student Omar cashed in on his furor and by the age of 22 became a champion boxer in Italy called the Italian Shadow. Omar is capable when pointed in the right direction; he also openly despises and taunts Giambi at nearly every turn. 

Daniel

Daniel Jermain. Clan Associate. An associate is an individual who is part of a crew but has not been made and commits crimes under the protection/direction of made members and remits a share of his illegal proceeds to his direct made superior.

*ENHANCED 'Danger-man', Daniel was a contractor for the Roxxon Corporation. An accidental exposure to atomic radiation at a power generation station empowered Daniel with super-strength and super-hearing (up to 8 km away). Unfortunately without full control of his atomic powers his family died of radiation sickness. 

Daniel was brought into the clan by Giambi as an associate last month. Giambi promised him a promotion to soldier would be considered 'made' if he ensured the Hammer-Tech weapons from NYC be safely delivered to the organization. Daniel is quick to anger and is easily goaded into violent outbursts by Spada. 

Geo

Geo (Geovana) Edmondo. Clan Associate. Luke Cage remembers this individual from group therapy sessions at Seagate Penitentiary. Geo was also part of the Civitavecchia convoy crew. After serving his time at Seagate for attempted murder, Geo moved to Miami where he bumped into Giambattista Casamonica who was attending an energy conference. Over drinks that night the two realized they shared the same tastes in women and music and became unlikely friends. 

Giambi invited Geo back to Italy where he is a popular radio DJ in central Italy and clan associate. 

'V'

Officer Val Ventura/Victor Gambino. Clan Associate. Victor or "V" is a Rome city Police Officer and a mole for the organization. He ensures evidence is misplaced and tips off clan Capos of law enforcement activity that target family interests. 

Dounglas

Douglas Ramsey. Clan Associate. 'Cypher'. A communications engineer for Baron Von Stucker and HYDRA in Sokovia until the Avengers attacked. After the defeat by the Avengers and subsequent destruction of Sokovia, Douglas fled to Italy with other surviving HYDRA agents. Individuals who had previously infiltrated various levels of the Italian government and were now blending into the shadows of politics. 

Douglas secretly operates for HYDRA at Quirinal Palace (the Italian Presidential Residence) but switched alliances when he married into the Casamonica family last year. 

Other clan associates consist of several Italian enforcers, thugs, and 'yes' men. 

La Casa Sul Mare

Luxury New Build Amels 206 Available For Sale (moranyachts.com)

WHIH World News

WHIH SPECIAL REPORT

Earth is reeling from the Event tonight. Hundreds of memorials and gatherings of support are reported around the World. 

Nothing remains of the lives lost today; only their memory and questions of what happens next. Official follow up statement from the Avengers indicated the event was not just contained on Earth but across the entire Universe. 

As hard as that is to believe, an extraterrestrial called Thanatos or 'Thanos' was reported to be the cause. Earth's Mightiest Protectors vow to discover if this historic catastrophe can be reversed. 

Politics: 

World leaders and governments report major losses including the President of the United States, the Queen of England, the President of Italy, and one-half of the Avengers including Wakanda's protector the Black Panther.  

 At The Vatican:

The Vatican is not discounting this event as the Rapture and beginning of the Time of Tribulations. Despite what Thor and the remaining Avengers state, the Catholic Church decrees those who are gone 'now reside with the Son of God and the twelve Apostilles in his New Kingdom'. This also includes Pope Francis who was taken. 

A College of Cardinals is set to convene Monday June 4th to elect a new Pope- someone to lead the church the dark times ahead. Cardinal Mortigan Goth, who predicted the Rapture would occur before 2020, is favored to be the next Pope of the Catholic Church. 

As a clarion call, half remaining clerg4y have left the Vatican on what is being called Crociata dei Cardinali or the Crusade of Cardinals- to travel to each church as missionaries to comfort and offer holy guidance for those who remain during the Tribulations to come.  

Cardinal Goth

National News: 

Martial-Law has been declared in some countries including China, Russia, and Mexico. Barring such extreme measures some provinces and cities across the world have implemented a curfew schedule instead. 

Airline and rail traffic is restricted to essential travel for five days and business markets around the world are frozen for five days. Motor vehicle travelers are urged to use caution as some roads and bridges could be blocked with vehicles. Public works projects will be delayed. 

All official sporting events are postponed indefinitely, schools and non-essential businesses are closed for five days.

International Genetics and Healthcare (IGH) has pared with the Red Cross to facilitate charitable donations across international borders and to bolster humanitarian efforts. 

Science News: 

Malfunction of the AI Weather Orbital Station has resulted in strange abnormal weather events including a 5 - 10 degree cooling trend, reports of strange violet lightening strikes, and an 80% increase in global cloud cover. 

Paulio and Pasquale Caruso's Circus Maximus and Menagerie

Welcome! Welcome to Circus Maximus, where extraordinary talents and unbelievable abilities collide under the big top! Fausto, your charismatic ringmaster, effortlessly lifts massive weights with his enhanced strength. Clowns with shape-shifting powers keep the audience in stitches as they play pranks and tricks, while illusionists create mind-bending magic acts that blur the line between reality and illusion. With acrobats and high flying acts of all kinds showcasing their powers, this circus is a spectacle like no other. And don't worry, no animals are involved – just astonishing performances that will leave you amazed! 

May 4 and 5^th Rome, Italy

May 11^th and 12^th Perugia, Province of Perugia

May 18^th and 19^th Citta di Castello, Province of Perugia

May 25^th and 26^th Bologna, Metropolitan City

May 29^th and 30^th Venice, Metropolitan City

June 1^st and 2^nd Palmanova, Italy

 

MCU Touchstones and the First-Five

Francis Barrett

In 1801 Francis Barrett wrote a thesis that explained the ancient origins of the Touchstones: five earthbound stones that were individually singularities of elemental air, fire, water, earth, spirit and were also conduits of bestowed divine power. 

These stones, Barrett wrote, were created by the primordial First-Five pantheons that ruled over Pangea. 

The early gods of the sky, the land, as well as others invested a portion of their divine energy into the Touchstones to create the living Earth and all things upon it. 

Over the Eons these Pantheons warred for supremacy causing great tidal destruction and breaks in the mantle of the Earth. This caused continents to drift apart opening new oceans and revealing new lands changing the face of the Earth forever.

After millions of years Men evolved, civilizations formed, and champions ascended and wars were fought between them. This continued throughout the centuries; many of these individuals became historical figures and heroes of folklore. 

The First-Five bestowed the Touchstones to worthy champions as the primordial pantheons evolved into the pagan and philosophic ways known today. 

Barrett postulated Touchstones had the potential of bestowing Avatar-like status to an individual and therefore was hard to quantify their value or potential. 

• Air Touchstone (The Iron Fist): governed by Shou-Lao in K'un-Lun, bestowed to the Iron Fist.
• Earth Touchstone (The Gea Shard): originally governed by the Vanir, bestowed to the Sorcerer Sol Rama of the London Sanctum.
• Fire Touchstone (The Hellfire Pyramid): originally governed by the Egyptian Ennead, has transferred owners hundreds of times throughout history. It is currently held by Cardinal Mortigan Goth
• Spirit Touchstone (Hematite): governed by Tribal Americas Pantheons, bestowed to The Thunderbird. 
• Water Touchstone (Moonstone): governed by Tribal Talokan Pantheon, bestowed to K'uk'ulkan. 

Our Lord and Savior

Mephisto will not tolerate your existence

Official Avengers Statement

Avengers Statement:

Our hearts go out to all those who lost loved ones across the universe today. 

If you are able, we encourage you to reach out to a family member, a friend or neighbor and see to their wellbeing. Contact your local community outreach center if you need assistance or for ways you can help survivors. 

The only path through this tragedy is together. The World is in our hands, it is up to us to make something of what’s left behind. 

News crawl on every station and streaming service: Use hashtag EarthUnited or indicate yourself 'Safe' on social media. A global census is underway. 

James Barrett

James Barrett is a well-educated, early thirties man raised to respect the earth and observe the Old Ways. His love for the old ways grew into an interest of ancient cultures, art, fantasy literature, Pink Floyd, and eventually as his mystical powers manifested, psychotropic drugs. 

Around the age of nine James began to see auras on old items and sometimes people, but the auras on people were always dark and full of woe.

The aura-reading talent waned for a time until five years ago, in 2013 while completing graduate studies, the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim attacked Greenwich England. The Dark Elves wished to restore their dominance during a convergence by using the Reality Infinity Stone over a Ley Line. Thor fought the dark elves and won the day, but attack shook the surrounding neighborhoods, caused major damage, and introduced strange magical creatures to Earth. It also had a profound effect on James that shifted his focus to the pursuit of magic.

James’ parents saw his shift in attention and the return of his mystic senses and eventually shared the family secret.

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Stories say that for a time the Asgardian Freyr spent some time in England 250 – 500 years ago. Freyr supposedly traveled the countryside working the fields. Everywhere Freyr went favorable weather, bountiful crops of grain and a healthy crops children followed. 

In 1772 Francis Barrett was born of a human mother and an Asgardian father many believed to be Freyr.

Francis was a science student, eventual occult philosopher and ley line warden. Before his death Francis published a book called The Magus in 1801. It was a collected system of occult philosophy, rituals, and his personal handbook on mysticism and super-natural practices. 

Francis Barrett

In his writings Francis maintained that such expanded mystical knowledge only came with the regular use of certain psychotropic mushrooms. This was necessary Francis wrote, to understand, observe, and manipulate mystical forces. Francis also warned that such understanding of magic also brought nightmares and infernal visions; the medicinal drugs were also a way to abate the visions and dreams.

What James’ parents said was that he was in fact a decedent of Francis Barrett- an Asgardian blooded sorcerer who, was hunted down and killed by the Ordo Seclorum for his occult practices.

After completing graduate studies that year, James found work as an online language tutor and became a self-published fantasy author publishing stories about magic and dark elves (of all things). James then began the arduous search for The Magus.

James ventured to Europe and eventually discovered that in 1802 a Catholic priest named Mortigan Goth, for fear of being cursed, did not destroy the Magus when Francis died but separated and scattered the tome hiding chapters of the book in sacred libraries of Catholic Churches. Thus began a tour of all the active churches from that time.

Late last summer while in Spain, James met Xandu of ClanDestine. An irritating but charismatic jinn with blonde hair, emerald eyes and a fey-like smile- and a Sorcerer of the mystic arts. With delight Xandu affirmed much of what James already knew about magic and mysticism. Xandu was obviously smitten with him.

Xandu excitedly explained about how he and other Sorcerers of the Mystic Arts defended Nexus locations against encroaching diabolical and supernatural threats. James was intrigued.

With his permission Xandu opened a portal to the London Sanctum where he assured James he would be formally trained. However, that promise was short lived as the steward of the London Sanctum, Sol Rama- for reasons unknown- refused to take on James as a student.

This upset the normally cool Xandu but did not deter him; while Xandu was forbidden to formally tutor James, he would nonetheless help James find the lost sections of the Magus.

John Proudstar “Thunderbird”

John Proudstar or “Thunderbird” is a Navajo native from New Mexico. He is a fit and well-spoken man with a deep well of determination and honor. 

John was born with super-senses that afforded him the ability to sense enhanced or gifted individuals. 

This ability attracted the attention of SHIELD and in 2011 John’s name was added to the INDEX. The INDEX was a SHIELD database of enhanced and-or gifted individuals flagged for observation and evaluation as potential threats. 

John was soon recruited and 2012 John was sent to New York City and assigned a SHIELD agent handler whom he took orders from: Agent Genevieve Wolfe. A beautiful and capable woman John would eventually fall in love. 

Their first case was investigating a man named Janus Silvini. Silvini was a small-time weekend TV news personality who reported on community stories. John confirmed Silvini exhibited a subtle, yet unknown ability. Agent Wolfe opened a case. 

Janus Silvini

What followed was a month of deception, love, and betrayal. Silvini possessed some kind of power of influence or suggestion, and Genevieve quickly fell to his influence. She fell for Silvini’s advances while John struggled to convince Genevieve that she was being manipulated. She evaded John’s attempts to dissuade her from seeing Silvini.

John was devastated as the woman he loved and wanted to protect was now beguiled into sleeping with the target.  

Then the Chitauri attacked New York causing untold damage and loss. The Avengers eventually won the battle of New York, but Genevieve was killed in the incident while Janus Silvini escaped in the chaos. 

John searched in vain for Silvini for the rest of that year then in January of the next year SHIELD found John and Agent Lucien Fosta became John’s new handler- with a new directive, hunting down Hostile Extremis subjects from Hyrdra’s foiled Project Centipede. 

John and Agent Fosta had a rough working relationship that lasted for a little over a year until the Hydra uprising in 2014. 

That day Agent Fosta revealed himself as Hydra by betraying John and shooting him, leaving him for dead. 

On the cusp of life and death, with his last breath John spoke to the Navajo ancestors. 

Haashchʼéé Oołtʼohí, the Navajo ancestral deity appeared before John. Haashchʼéé stood like a giant with a great warrior’s headdress, decorated deerskin pants and fine colorful moccasins. A loose tunic vest was worn over his colorfully painted and tanned well-muscled torso. A thickly wire-wrapped hematite stone hung from his neck. The god’s face shifted, instead of eyes- stars and galaxies showed. The world around them was blurred and only Haashchʼéé Oołtʼohí was in focus. 

A low voice spoke in John’s head: 

I require a servant, a warrior-avatar to serve me on this mortal plane. Thunderbird, you will be that for me. 

John was subjected to horrific images. He saw unfettered atrocities visited on children and the defenseless. Evil that occurs frequently and without due punishment around the world. 

This angered John so deeply that he did not even suspect Haashchʼéé Oołtʼohí manipulating him into accepting his offer as Avatar. 

When John accepted, Haashchʼéé Oołtʼohí handed him the hematite stone from around his neck. It was one of five elemental Touchstones on earth- the Spirit Touchstone. The Touchstone would be his connection to Haashchʼéé Oołtʼohí and the source of his bestowed power. 

Days later upon waking John realized that the Hydra uprising meant that John was working for the enemy all along!

How many enhanced individuals, how many innocent lives was John guilty of damning to unknown atrocities and abuse at the hands of Hydra? 

In the four years since becoming the Thunderbird, John has fallen to substance abuse while being an instrument for Haashchʼéé Oołtʼohí, tracking down individuals (enhanced or otherwise) who use their power to victimize, hurt or to exploit others. 

Marcus Aleksandr Makhailov

Marcus Aleksandr Makhailov is a twenty-eight-year-old, cultured and well-spoken son to one of the oldest noble families in Sokovia. 

Raised as an only child Marcus received the best Catholic education and martial training at the most opulent and expensive private schools in Eastern Europe. A graduate from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Marcus enjoys cars, classical music, plays the piano, and likes cooking authentic Sokovian cuisine.

In 2012 after the attack on New York by alien Chitauri forces. So it was no surprise that Marcus joined the Sokovian military. It was a time when many nations took a critical look at their military budget and defense posture. In the Sokovian service he was promoted regularly, rose to field agent, and in two years became a covert special forces operative. 

Then in 2015 Ultron targeted Sokovia killing hundreds and laying waste to his homeland and the stability of Eastern Europe. Marcus stood helpless as he watched on television as friends, family, and lands were lost to an insane robot intellect intent on killing the Avengers and reducing the world’s population.

Distraught, Marcus returned to Sokovia and gathered what resources he could find and unintentionally unearthed his family’s dark connections with Hydra and the true origins of his family’s wealth.

Marcus learned his family had deep ties with Hydra and supported The Red Skull during WWII and his innovative experiments with the Tesseract. Marcus also discovered it was also his family who smuggled Chitauri tech out of New York. As well as extra-terrestrial assets that included a leviathan carcass his family shipped across the Atlantic for Von Strucker of Hydra.

Additional findings revealed the Makhailov family also helped fund human experimentation combining alien technology with Hydra’s Project Centipede in recent years. 

It seems that himself may have been groomed for eventual induction into Hydra. 

Feeling the weight of atonement for his family’s atrocities Marcus turned to prayer

Marcus eventually settled in a decommissioned safe house over a coffee shop in Rome, Italy. Here Marcus works as a café barista in the day. At night Marcus protects the streets of Rome as the vigilante “Morning Star” while he searches for former Hydra agents and their victims.

Marcus has been decoding a list of Hydra war-criminals and a smaller list of test subjects he can hopefully find answers for. It has been an on going process.

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Currently Identified as Hydra 

Dr. Scarabeus

Dr. Scarabeus (Project Scarab) 

Dr. List 

John Garrett (the Clairvoyant and the first prototype Dethlok)

Wolfgang Von Strucker RIP

Daniel Whitehall RIP

Matteo Salvini

Douglas Ramsey

Lucien Fosta

Janus Silvini

Experimentation Subjects:

Wanda Maximoff

Pietro Maximoff 

Daniel Jermain 

Janus Silvini 

Mathew Casamonica 

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Since the beginning of the year there is an uptick in smart tech smash and grabs in Rome. Mostly AIM  smartphones, but what is concerning for you and your continued work is these smartphones use the same charging component as your tech. This puts a strain on this already rare resource. 

You have been investigating these thefts outside the law and have not made much progress. Last night was the most recent robbery- the second in a week. The AIM Store at the Roma Termini.

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Power Ratio Duration

Charging components           Charge Time (hrs)                                  Use Duration (hrs)

16 (Current)                            8                                                              1

32                                           4                                                              2

64                                           2                                                              4

128                                         1                                                              8